Welcome to The Tidewater School. We are a small, non-profit, independent school that is focused on preparing students to navigate middle and high school with strong academic, critical thinking, leadership, community service, and decision-making skills. For nearly 30 years, our students have experienced learning in a compassionate and stimulating environment, respectful of individual learning styles and within a community of friends.

Our Montessori program is a mixed-age, hands-on model with small teacher to student ratios and a collegial and nurturing atmosphere. The Montessori curriculum provides a platform for genuine mastery of math, language, social science and natural science concepts. Children also earn the freedom to make lots of choices within that structure and participate in caring for the indoor and outdoor class environments.

All of our students, ages 3-12, study Spanish, environmental education, music, and engage in outdoor play daily. Our Elementary class also participates in physical education classes and operates an active 4-H Club, which serves as a vehicle for local, national and international service projects.

Most graduates of our program go to the public middle schools and some choose other private schools. They are well prepared for those programs, academically, socially, and emotionally. Their exposure to multi-cultural programs and international service projects while at Tidewater also makes them uniquely aware of their important place in the world.

Parents tell us that our graduates carry with them a sense of fairness, intellectual curiosity, and belief in themselves that distinguishes them from their peers in middle school and beyond. We are proud of our students and are touched by the way in which they stay connected to each other long beyond their years here. Tidewater friendships last a lifetime!

Here are some of the most important things you should know about Tidewater's programs:

The Montessori Philosophy serves as the backbone for our curriculum. We believe that the self-paced and hands-on nature of Montessori work agrees with what neuroscience tells us about how children learn. We have invested in high quality Montessori materials at every level and aim to provide strong, consistent, and connected academic programs from Primary through Upper Elementary. Our mixed-age classes inspire children to take chances, learn from each other, and develop leadership skills right from the start.

Diversity is part of the natural fabric of Tidewater. Our strong emphasis on multicultural programs has long set us apart from other schools. We are proud to provide students at every level with Spanish language classes. In addition, we actively encourage families to share their own cultural traditions as well as any travel experiences that might encourage student curiosity. Our entire school celebrates cultural traditions such as Eid, Diwali, Passover, Dia de los Muertos, Black History Month, and Easter just to name a few. The Primary classes embark on a noteworthy World Tour for 8 weeks each winter during which they sample the music, art, culture, language, flora, fauna, and food of each country they visit. We believe that learning about the customs of those around us makes children better citizens of the world.

Innovative programs such as our environmental studies curriculum, STEM seminars and projects, 4-H club, and our Orff music curriculum are reflective of our commitment to educating the whole child. Tidewater's Elementary children engage in weekly physical education classes that focus on coordination, balance, and body awareness in addition to outdoor adventure experiences. Thanks to generous grants form the Arts Council of Calvert County and the Maryland State Arts Council, we regularly invite performers such as storytellers, dancers, actors, and musicians to share their talents with our students. For us, this has been the standard for nearly 30 years.

Parent education is also emphasized at Tidewater. Our Adlerian parenting classes help parents to understand child development and provide them with practical tools to help children make good choices. We also offer Montessori-themed workshops and other seminars based on parent suggestions. Previous topics have included nutrition, celebrations and traditions in the home, physical fitness, sexual development, and teaching philosophy to children.

Our commitment to community is intentional. Tidewater draws like-minded people together and this creates a supportive environment that extends beyond the walls of the school. It leads to many long-term friendships among both parents and students. Our families organize monthly potluck dinners and morning get togethers.

Sustainability has been important to us for a long time. Even before we earned recognition as a Maryland Green School we were making environmental awareness part of our daily practice with students. Our children recycle, bring "no-garbage" lunches to school, grow their own vegetables, compost, and occasionally raise chickens on-site. We are very proud to have a part-time Environmental Education teacher on staff.

Please browse our website to learn about our philosophy, policies, and procedures. We look forward to meeting you and hope you will be inspired to join The Tidewater School’s community of friends!